When two lovers go to the alter and take their marital vows, what is the meaning? Well, there are a million different answers but in the last 10 years we have seen at least three examples of infidelity in these vows pertaining to high profile athletes. These few instances include Kobe Bryant and his hotel "rape", another would be the most recent in Tiger Woods and his "flings", and the most hurtful would be Steve McNair and his "death in dishonor".
When these women met their men they probably had motives of their own, however when all is said and done all took the vow to be married to a high profile "ATHLETE". Now before they took the vow, were they thinking, "Hey, I am marrying an athlete, females are going to throw themselves at him, so let it ride, whatever he does I'm going to stay regardless"? Was that really what they said to themselves? Or is it just a given?
Is it really to be assumed that when taking the ultimate vow with an athlete that he is going to 
be unfaithful? Lately, that has been the case. All of the temptations of the Sports Industry has taken hold of these athletes morals, lives, and practical common sense. Isn't business and pleasure supposed to be separate. No, not in the age of the multi-million dollar athlete. Their careers fuel relationships with others especially women.
be unfaithful? Lately, that has been the case. All of the temptations of the Sports Industry has taken hold of these athletes morals, lives, and practical common sense. Isn't business and pleasure supposed to be separate. No, not in the age of the multi-million dollar athlete. Their careers fuel relationships with others especially women. Vanessa Bryant married Kobe probably because she was just a model in the right video shoot at the right time. However, did she assume that years down the line he would become unfaithful? Did she know Kobe was stepping out on her? Was she alright with the whole situation? Vanessa assumed that he was a good man but money talks to these females and as you saw she stayed put after an 8-caret, purple diamond, $4million dollar ring. That right there was his apology, a ring.
In the most recent case of Tiger Woods, he was caught by his wife. The reported "This is Tiger" voicemail stated that Elin Woods looked through his phone and might be calling his mistress. Ok, Ok, Ok, w
e are talking about a white woman whom is trying to regulate on her black husband. In this world that is a black woman's way of handling the situation. So in this case Elin probably was assuming he was cheating but just wasn't going to let it ride. Now we read in a report from Bill Zwecker, a Sun-Times Columnist, that Tiger Woods is paying Elin seven figures into her own personal account along with a revamp of their prenuptial agreement. What is up with these guys paying their wives to stay? All that shows, is that he can go cheat and just let it go a day later. Are you serious?The most trying and heartfelt form of infidelity came from Steve McNair. Was Michelle McNair really sitting at home thinking her man was back in Tennessee with another woman? Michelle is probably an assumer, she wanted to believe he wasn't but knew in her heart he was. Stev
e McNair was being unfaithful and knew that he could get away with his crime. This account turned into tragedy on July 4, 2009, as McNair was found shot to death in his mistresses apartment with her alongside him. This was his downfall to his family, loved ones, and friends, but is it just a given?These men went into their marriages wanting a family, happy life, and probably a trusting relationship. All three showed that they were not worthy of being trusted. The women on the other hand are at fault also because they continue to take gifts and materialism instead of the happiness that is said to be of a marriage. Once again I beg of the answer, is the loss of one's life, your family, reputation, and money just a given when taking the ultimate vow with an "ATHLETE"?
(This article in it's entirety is from opinion, you and I are entitled to it. Feel free to comment. I appreciate all the feedback)
R.I.P and much respect for the life, friends, and family of Steve McNair.
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Good post!
ReplyDeleteI think some people tend to forget that sports is merely a mirror of society. Whatever ills that are present in society...will be present in sports. Drugs, crime, and yes...infidelity.
As a married man, I can honestly say that I don't care what Tiger did. He's human. Just like us. He sinned. Just like we all do. I can't be mad at him.
I've been faithful through my marriage and I believe in the vows that I spoke the day of my wedding. However, I know that it's easy to get caught up in some bs with a woman. No man is above that. No matter how much you try to avoid it. There are some women who are so desparate that they'll want something that they can't have. And that's where the problem starts and ends. I don't knock dudes for doing dirt. I don't uphold em. At the end of the day, it's none of my business
I think some women get caught up in these stories b/c when they hear about somebody getting caught cheating...it triggers them to that time in their life that it happened to them or to a friend. Tiger Woods is no different from Leroy Johnson or Bif Leyton. Once the emotions are removed, we can come to the realization that it is none of our business. What happens between him and his wife is no different than what happens with me and my wife.
*sorry for the book...steps off the soapbox* LOL
I have a question for you Racquel, what percentage of married male athletes would you say is 100% faithful?
ReplyDeleteI have a relatively long comment to this. I had a discussion about Tiger Woods with my best friend the other night, and we were able to come up with a few other cheating examples (there are plenty). Michael Jordan was a womanizer, Dwyane Wade is getting divorced, and it's debatable based on stories about what New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur did several years ago.
ReplyDeleteAlthough that does bring up another point, why do black athletes appear to cheat more in the media than white athletes? Trust me, I worked in the NHL which is predominantly white, and I know there are at least a handful of athletes who cheat. Also, I know people who work in Major League Baseball who have known lots of them to cheat because they're on longer road trips, and have the time to do it. However, in the news, it seems the black athletes get caught more.
Now, let's get back to the original topic of why does it happen. In that discussion with my friend, we decided it came down to opportunity. As your average good looking male, we probably get hit on once a day by a cute girl. Maybe a little more for some, maybe a little less for some, but it's a good average to start with. Now, if you're in a great relationship, you really love your girlfriend/wife, and you are committed...it's easy to say no once a day. However, once you become a celebrity, now the opportunities rise to 15, 30 times a day? Every new woman you meet will be interested in you because you're rich and famous. You go out with your friends, and girls are throwing themselves at you because you're rich and famous. This does not happen to the average male.
Well, at first, if you're raised with good morals and values, your parents are still married thus you have good role models, you love your wife/girlfriend, etc. you'll keep saying no. You can keep it going for a few years....but say...five years of this, at just 15 women a day is 27,300 new women throwing themselves at you.
You're going to hit a point where you and your wife/girlfriend hit a rough patch. You're fighting this week over who knows what, you're down, and you have all these interested women who want to make you happy. This has been happening for awhile, so you're already starting to wear down, but now there's a little crack in the wall, and you start to wonder what that forbidden fruit tastes like. You take one bite, and now you're thrust down a whole new path of infidelity.
In our consumer obsessed society, money wins out 90% of the time. There are probably 10% of people who marry JUST FOR LOVE. Why do you think 50% of all marriages end in divorce, and money is considered the number one contention point in marriages? It's not about are all athletes good looking, because they aren't. If they weren't famous, would women chase after David Beckham and Jason Taylor? Most likely, but how about the instance of Steve McNair. He's an average looking guy, and definitely doesn't have the looks of Becks or J.T. However, he was rich and famous. Those girls saw the dollar signs.
What we should be questioning is not the occurrence of cheating, but the value system of our country. If you get everyone back to old fashioned values, less emphasis on money and power, less emphasis on materialism, and more emphasis on being who you really are you would have less cheating. Unfortunately, this is impossible to do. What's even worse, is many of the people who now point fingers at Tiger Woods are also cheaters themselves. However, they're quick to say "LOOK WHAT HE DID!" How hypocritical.
I know in my dating life, I've often looked for a good Midwestern girl. Why? Because they come closest to that value system that I am looking for. This is my personal opinion though. I am probably in the minority in this, because when it comes to dating, I don't think people look for value systems. I think they look for a lot of other things that probably don't mean much in the long run...
Anyways, my point is that it comes down to money and opportunity because that money and fame creates the opportunity. The opportunity creates the infidelity. No matter who you are, it will wear you down, and you'll at least consider cheating at some point. Whether you go through with it or not is completely dependent upon your own self control and will power. People generally only have so much will power.
ReplyDeleteBefore I go, I'd like to explore two other situations. How often do athletes cheat in Europe? Is it frequent among soccer players? In Europe, soccer is their most popular sport. It is their NFL, so they would be the ones getting the most attention. I had mentioned David Beckham before, and I'd be willing to bet that although women go after him here, he probably gets mobbed 10 times over in England.
My other question is, what is the instance of women cheating? What causes them to cheat, and do they have the same opportunities as men? You would think rich and famous singers and actresses would have plenty of opportunities. Are they not taking them or are we not reporting them? Just some food for thought.
Great blog, and I hope to read more from you in the future.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/34251278/ns/sports-golf/
ReplyDeleteMichael Wilbon wrote an article saying "A man is only as faithful as his options." Check it out.